Police rescue 3 kidnap victims, arrest 2 suspects (Vanguard)
The Police in Abia State has rescued three kidnap victims identified as, Azubuike Okorie, Oluebube Nwafor and Ekene Ike, at a kidnap den in Umunneochi council area.
Vanguard gathered that the suspects were arrested and victims rescued following a raid at a bush in Lekwesi community.
Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Abia State Command, SP Maureen Chinaka, who confirmed the incident, disclosed that two male suspects, Abubakar Tukur and Ibrahim Sandari,have been arrested in connection with the kidnap incident. Read more
We must reposition APC, Tinubu tells party leaders (Nation)
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has challenged leaders of the ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) to reposition the party for the much-desired leadership in the nation.
He gave the charge on Thursday at the 12th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party in Abuja.
The President reminded members of the committee of their leadership position and stressed the need for unity of purpose among party members, warning that posterity will not forgive them if the party fails. Read more
I’ll hit the ground running as APC Chairman, says Ganduje (Channels)
The new National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abdullahi Ganduje, says he will hit the ground running to ensure the victory of the ruling party in the November 11, 2023 governorship polls in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa.
Ganduje spoke on Thursday during his acceptance speech as the party’s chair after his emergence at the 12th APC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held at the Congress Hall of Transcorp Hilton in Abuja.
The party’s NEC also elected former Senate spokesman, Ajibola Basiru, from Osun State as its National Secretary. Read more
Deputy Speaker accepted forgery allegation, petitioner tells Tribunal in Benue (Sun)
The Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP), and its State Assembly candidate for Ado State Constituency of Benue State, Mrs Agnes Uloko, on Thursday urged the election petition tribunal to grant them the reliefs sought in their petition against the deputy speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Danladi Lami, as she has accepted allegations of forgery under cross examination.
The petitioners who are challenging the declaration of Danladi Lami as the winner of the March 18th, 2023, State Assembly elections for Ado State Constituency, stated this through their counsel, Edward Agena, while adopting their final written address.
According to the petitioners counsel, the deputy speaker tendered a result captioned “SSCE RESULT 2004 WAEC” allegedly issued by the Ministry of Education, Zamfara State. Read more
Diaso: Sanwo-Olu vows thorough investigation, condoles with victim’s family (Punch)
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has vowed to thoroughly investigate the tragic death of a medical doctor, Vwaere Diaso, who lost her life due to a mechanical failure within the elevator at the Doctors’ quarters of the General Hospital, Odan, Lagos Island.
Sanwo-Olu, who described the death of Diaso as devastating, empathised with the deceased family.
“In light of this tragedy, I have taken immediate action to initiate a thorough investigation into the cause of the mechanical failure. Read more
Apapa Customs Command records N540b revenue in 6 months (Leadership)
The Apapa Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has generated a whopping sum of N540bn as revenue from January to July, 2023.
This was made known in a statement issued by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, CSC Abubakar Usman, on Thursday.
According to the statement, the outgoing Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Mohammed Auwal, at a farewell session with senior officers of the Command, commended the N119bn July collection, which, according to him, was the highest monthly revenue made by the Command. Read more
Why labour suspended strike after meeting Tinubu – TUC president Osifo (Guardian)
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) president, Comrade Festus Osifo, said that the federal government has promised that plans are in place to address their grievances within the next week.
Osifo made this known during an interview with Arise News on Thursday morning after the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and TUC suspended further protests after holding a meeting with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Tinubu’s spokesperson, Dele Alake revealed this late Wednesday following a meeting which the president held with the NLC President, Comrade Joe Ajaero and TUC’s Osifo at the State House, Abuja. Read more
Bayelsa’s longest serving Chief Judge dies at 65 (Tribune)
The immediate past Chief Judge of Bayelsa State, Justice Kate Abiri died of a yet-to-confirmed illness in a hospital in Yenagoa, the State Capital, at the age of 65 years.
Justice Abiri who reportedly died in the early hours of Thursday, 3rd August 2023, served as Chief Judge of the state for 15 years, swearing in former governors of Bayelsa and Rivers State, Seriake Dickson and Nyesom Wike, as well as incumbent governor, Douye Diri.
Born on January 13th, 1958, Justice Abiri graduated from the University of Jos In 1983 with a Bachelor of Law degree in the Second Class Lower Division and in that same year she was admitted into the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island Lagos. Read more
Sinéad O’Connor’s remains released to her family following autopsy (IrishTimes)
The remains of Irish singer Sinéad O’Connor, who was found dead in her London apartment last week, have been released to her family.
John Thompson, the clerk of the London Inner South district for Southwark Coroners Court, confirmed to The Irish Times that an “autopsy was conducted to secure a medical cause of death” before the release of her body to her family.
The autopsy report may not be received “for some weeks”, according to a statement issued by Mr Thompson on behalf of the senior coroner, Andrew Harris. It said the conclusion will be publicly disclosed if an inquest is opened into her death. Read more
Sandra Bullock has strict clause written into her contracts after stark sex tape refusal (DailyStar)
Sandra Bullock has a specific clause written into her movie contracts for one very unique reason.
Put simply, the Hollywood icon doesn’t want to know her “best angles” when it comes to frolicking in the bedroom.
And though she stripped nearly naked for 2009 rom-com The Proposal alongside her long-time pal Ryan Reynolds, Sandra won’t take it any further than a comedic scene with absolutely no intercourse involved. Read more
Lizzo responds to fat-shaming and sexual harassment claims from dancers (Standard)
Lizzo has broken her silence after she was accused of fat-shaming and sexual harassment by three of her former backing dancers in a new lawsuit.
The songstress – real name Melissa Viviane Jefferson – is being sued by the dancers who accuse the Grammy winner of sexual harassment after allegedly pressurising her crew to touch the breasts of a nude woman in the notorious Red Light District of Amsterdam.
The suit claims Lizzo allegedly encouraged her tour crew into “catching dildos launched from the performers’ vaginas, and eating bananas protruding from the performers’ vaginas.” Read more
Jonathan Majors’ trial delayed until September 6th (FarOut)
The trial of actor Jonathan Majors over misdemeanour charges of harassment and assault has been postponed until September 6th.
Majors had previously been arrested in New York on March 25th after a woman reported the Creed III star for assault. According to police notes, the claimant did have various injuries to her body, but the lack of evidence led to Majors being released from custody later that day.
During the first court hearing, Majors’ defence lawyer Priya Chaudhry claimed that the actor had called 911 out of concern for the woman’s mental health. Majors had also attended a court hearing in June for the charges before appearing in New York Criminal Court on August 3rd. Read more
Marc Maron says “certain men” trying to cancel Barbie are “insecure babies” (THR)
Marc Maron is calling out anyone who is bashing Greta Gerwig’s Barbie as being “woke.”
The comedian-actor-podcaster recently took to TikTok to share his thoughts on the Margot Robbie-led movie as well as to shut down “certain men” who “took offense” to the box office hit.
“I saw Barbie and I thought it was a fucking masterpiece,” he said in a nearly two-minute video. “And like, I don’t throw that word around lightly, but, Jesus Christ.” Read more
US State Department orders evacuation of embassy in Niger following coup (AlJazeera)
The United States has ordered all non-emergency government personnel to temporarily evacuate its embassy in Niger, as the country weathers the aftershocks of a July coup.
In a statement on Wednesday, US state department spokesperson Matthew Miller explained that the measure was taken “out of an abundance of caution” and that the embassy itself would remain open, though only for “limited, emergency services”.
“The United States remains committed to our relationship with the people of Niger and to Nigerien democracy,” Miller said. “We remain diplomatically engaged at the highest levels.” Read more
Pope Francis arrives in Portugal for World Youth Day (UPI)
Pope Francis arrived in Lisbon, Portugal, on Wednesday for World Youth Day, less than two months after the 86-year-old pontiff had surgery on his abdominal wall.
He met Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa along with other officials from the country. He will also meet with Portugal’s Prime Minister Antonio Costa at the Monastery dos Jerònimos Wednesday evening.
During the visit with de Sousa, a pair of Portuguese children offered the pontiff a bouquet of flowers. Read more
Prize Money: FIFA will still pay Falcons through NFF — Aisha Falode (Punch)
Chairperson of the Nigerian Women’s Football League, Aisha Falode, has clarified that FIFA will still pay the 2023 Women’s World Cup prize money through the country’s federation.
FIFA secretary-general, Fatma Samoura following the qualification of Super Falcons to the second round of the Mundial, reportedly said the world’s football governing body would send unpaid allowance to the country’s women’s football team to the players directly.
FIFA had announced that every player participating in the World Cup group stage will earn $30,000. Read more
2-time champion Germany out of Women’s World Cup after draw with South Korea (CBC)
Germany failed to reach the knockout stage for the first time at the Women’s World Cup after being held to a 1-1 draw against South Korea on Thursday.
Morocco’s 1-0 win over Colombia meant Germany needed a win to advance. Led by captain Alexandra Popp, Germany created numerous scoring opportunities but could not find the winner. Colombia topped Group H and Morocco took second place, both with six points. Germany finished with four.
South Korea struck early in the sixth minute when a defence-splitting pass from Lee Youngju found Cho Sohyun, who produced a calm finish. Read more
Fatigue ruled out Osimhen from pre-season (Sun)
Napoli was without Victor Osimhen in yesterday’s pre-season game against Girona due to fatigue, reports owngoalnigeria.com.
According to Napoli, Osimhen missed the match due to an adductor muscle tissue issue that was triggered by fatigue and was asked to take some rest.
However, Napoli still lined up two Nigerians in the starting line up in the duo of Michael Folorunsho and Edward Obarentin. Both players haven’t played for Italy at any level, making them eligible to play for Nigeria. Read more
Messi scores in 3rd straight game for Inter Miami after 95-minute weather delay (USAToday)
Lionel Messi scored in his third straight game for Inter Miami after the start of the Leagues Cup contest against Orlando City on Wednesday night was delayed 95 minutes because of thunderstorms.
It was Messi’s fourth goal since joining the MLS club and came seven minutes into the game. He stopped a pass on his chest from Robert Taylor, dribbled a couple of yards near the edge of the 6-yard box and converted a shot that landed under the crossbar.
The goal gave Inter Miami a 1-0 in the Round of 32 match.
The game was scheduled to start at 8 p.m., but didn’t begin on time because of the storms. Read more
Jurgen Klopp picks out four Liverpool players for criticism after Bayern Munich defeat (Mirror)
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has urged four of his defenders to improve after their disappointing 4-3 defeat to Bayern Munich.
The Bundesliga champions won in Singapore on Wednesday thanks to Frans Kratzig’s added-time winner. Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane and Josip Stanisic also scored for Thomas Tuchel’s side, with Cody Gakpo, Virgil van Dijk and Luis Diaz finding the net in reply.
Liverpool have conceded 10 goals during their first four pre-season fixtures, with only two of those teams playing top-flight football this coming season. Klopp was understandably frustrated with his defenders after the Bayern loss and criticised four of them. Read more
Andy Murray wows the crowd with vintage play to win in Washington for the 1st time since 2018 (NBC)
Andy Murray thanked fans for taking off — or skipping — work to watch him play in the DC Open on a Wednesday afternoon.
His vintage performance made it worth it.
Cheered loudly and vociferously by the crowd at stadium court, the three-time Grand Slam champion and former top-ranked men’s player rallied to win the first-set tiebreak and beat American Brandon Nakashima 7-6(5), 6-4. It’s his first win in Washington since 2018, a low point of Murray’s career when fatigue caused him to withdraw and he didn’t want to play tennis anymore. Read more
